Isn't there one R missing?

Question

So we have all learned that in order to protect the environment we must Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. But it seems to me that a large amount of waste comes from the near extinction of trades such as the local shoemaker or the guy who fixed appliances. Of course that's related to the producers noticing that if appliances 'lasted forever' the market shrinked.
Anyway, has anyone considered "Repairing" as a means to protect the environment?

azelb · Accepted Answer

If planned obsolescence was made illegal there would be more permanence in the products we buy.  Things could be required to be made to last not as throw-away items to be replaced after a short time.
The manufacturers have a long plan for their replacements and more replacements to be sold endlessly wasting our resources and filling our landfills.

Peter Reefman · Answer

Also Rethink. We need to rethink how we can not only reduce, reuse, and recycle things, but we also need to rethink how we can build them in the first place so that they don't need to have a single life. 

We need to think Cradle to CRADLE, not cradle to grave. What I mean is something like the glass bottles that are made square so that after they're finished being drunk out of they can be laid as glass bricks to make low cost housing.

Also, we need to try to banish recycle as much as possible, at least our current state of recycling which is really more "crush, melt down and totally remake into an inferior product using lots of energy" than what recycling SHOULD be. There's a massive industry based around the current way we recycle that in fact is really encouraging us to maintain a throw-away society.

hipp5 · Answer

Yeah, I've always just placed repairing under the heading of "reuse". I try to fix things before I consider getting a replacement.

Also, the suggestion of "refuse" falls under "reduce".

v1rag0 · Answer

You'll be pleased to learn that there are 5 R's!

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle.

Refuse means to refuse to buy things that are wasteful.  You've got the other four.

tiarabang · Answer

Interesting point. But I think "Repairing" would be avoided if we all followed the simple 3 R's. I may be interpreting your question wrong, but if we reduced our use, we would be cutting down on the waste. If we recycled, instead of repairing, you technically don't lose out on anything, as you'll be able to Reuse it later.

Isn't there one R missing?

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